KIMT NEWS 3 — In early March the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced that they were going to allow small knives and other things like baseball bats back on airplanes.

Now the TSA has decided that it may be too soon to do so.

Thursday was going to be a day of change for the airline industry. Small knives up to 2.36 inches were set to be allowed on planes.

“I can see why they probably wanted to do that just to kind of ease up moving things through the line and everything,” said passenger Tom Scheid of Rochester.

The TSA has since changed their mind. They postponed that decision to get more feedback from those who work in the field.

“It makes sense that they’re listening to the industry experts, people that are working with it everyday, the flight attendants, those that are kind of front line employees and if they have push back I think it’s the right thing to do to take their thoughts into account,” said Kurt Claussen, Deputy Airport Director at the Rochester International Airport (RST).

Along with those who work on the planes, a lot of the passengers are okay with the TSA stepping back.

“Why bother? Why go through the hassles? If someone wants to bring something along, put it in a bag, check it in, why do you need it on the airplane?” Scheid said.

While passengers go through security without knives Tuesday, those at the airport said they would not notice much of a difference if they did.

“From an airport standpoint it doesn’t make too much of a difference to us,” Claussen said, “I would think some passengers would be aware of it just because some of the smaller knives they may have been used to taking with them prior to 9/11.”

While those on the ground at the RST may not notice a difference, those in the air are making their voices heard, which are the ones the TSA want to listen to.

“I think they’re just trying to evaluate the comments that they’ve gotten, I think it’s due diligence to make sure that either it does make sense or it doesn’t make sense. I think it’s the responsible thing to do,” Claussen said.

Like Claussen, passengers like the fact that the TSA is ready to listen and are willing to make changes if necessary.

“I think that’s a good idea, I think just go out and look at a broader view of what people think,” Scheid said, “Because if people are concerned about it and continue to be nervous about it, they’re going to end up reversing it anyway.”

Claussen says if the changes were to take place the only difference from the airports perspective would be at the security checkpoint. He does not see any threat of danger there which is one reason we are hearing the protest come from flight attendants and pilots where the danger is more imminent.